SFHA welcomes “thorough and far-reaching” report on Planning Bill
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has today (Thursday 17 May) welcomed the Scottish Parliament Local Government and Communities Committee report on the Scottish Government’s draft Planning Bill and described it as “thorough and far-reaching” (1).
Sarah Boyack, Head of Public Affairs at SFHA, said:
“The SFHA recognises that the new Planning Bill represents an excellent opportunity for planning to enable the delivery of more affordable homes, create better places and increase equality and social justice in Scotland. This is why SFHA gave evidence to the committee on the content of the bill, and we welcome much that is in the report.
“In particular, we welcome proposals for a purpose for planning to be enshrined in the bill, with an aim to create quality places, meet a human right to housing, and achieve climate change targets.
“We also welcome proposals that Simplified Development Zones, which could help deliver more homes, must follow full community consultation and be properly master planned to deliver better places.
“We agree with the proposal for Local Place Plans to be properly resourced and, in particular, for support to be made available to disadvantaged communities to develop plans.
“We are also encouraged by the committee’s call for discussions and proposals for land value capture, which we believe could support increased delivery of homes of all tenures, to be brought forward by the Scottish Government.
“The SFHA and its partners look forward to continuing to work constructively with the Scottish Government, the Local Government and Communities Committee and MSPs of all parties in the continued development of this vital piece of legislation.”
Ends
For further information, please contact SFHA Media Adviser Kirsten Walker on t: 0141 567 6221 m: 0788 788 8348 email: kwalker@sfha.co.uk
Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SFHA.HousingScotland
Twitter www.twitter.com/sfha_hq
NOTES:
- https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/LGC/2018/5/17/Stage-1-Report-on-the-Planning--Scotland--Bill
- The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) was established in 1975 and has around 128 members providing affordable housing and wider community services across Scotland, as well as a further 150 sector associates. The SFHA is owned and governed by its members and exists to lead, represent and support the work of housing associations and co-operatives throughout Scotland.
- The SFHA is the voice of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland. SFHA’s 128 members represent 81% of the sector, own and manage 86% of the 283,000+ housing association stock across Scotland. Together, housing associations and co-operatives provide housing for almost 500,000 people, which is one in every 11 households.
- Over 15,000 staff are employed by SFHA members across Scotland, 93% of the staff within the sector.
- Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies, regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.